Writing Retreats and All Writes tend to fill up quickly, and we often run a wait-list for interested participants beyond the number of people we can accommodate.

In order to fill every spot and to help ensure that all Yale graduate and professional school students can take advantage of these programs, The Graduate Writing Lab has a core set of policies and procedures including a no-show fee. These policies and procedures closely mirror policies at other institutions that offer writing groups to graduate students.

Please take a minute to review the following policies, sustainability initiatives, and general information about accommodations, including access to lactation rooms and changing rooms for small children:

General Accommodations:

Bathrooms are accessible on the main level of the Poorvu Center adjacent to the music library and on the basement level. Gender-neutral bathrooms are also available upstairs on the mezzanine level of the Poorvu Center.

Changing tables for small children are located in the basement of Bass Library. There is a lactation room available to participants to pump, store a supply, and/or change children in Room 127A, which is accessible by key. Please email Elizabeth Keto at Elizabeth.Keto@yale.edu to set up access with the event facilitators. 

General Policies:

Lateness and no-show policy: As a reminder, you are expected to arrive on time and stay until the session ends. Late arrivals and early departures are disruptive to fellow participants. For this reason, please plan to arrive 5 minutes before the event start time to sign in & set up your work station. If you fail to attend the full session or do not show up, you may be ineligible to participate in any more GWL writing sessions this semester. If your plans change and you cannot make session for which you have registered, please contact Elizabeth Keto ASAP (but no less than 24 hours before the event start time).

Food Restrictions and Preferences: For full-day writing retreats, a light breakfast and a light lunch with vegetarian options will be offered. For writing study halls, lunch or dinner will be served. However, please feel free to bring your own provisions to replace or supplement these offerings. We advise those with dietary restrictions or severe food allergies to bring their own food, as we cannot guarantee food to be compatible with all food allergies and dietary restrictions. If you have a severe allergy that requires the complete absence of a particular food from the room, please note this in your registration form least 24 hours prior to the session so we can help ensure your safety.

Sustainability Goals: 

In order to support Yale’s sustainability goals, we ask you to bring your own mug and/or water bottle to partake in the beverages provided. We also encourage you to bring your own utensils (fork, spoon, knife) and tupperware to enjoy the food options. GWL writing groups do their best to use up and reuse materials from the Poorvu Center, and we are always striving to minimize our footprint.